Web-fed printing machine



E. G. NlxoN 1,999,472

`WEB FED PRINTING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l im f .@Wwwwww M www E ww m am lApril so, 193,5.`

w u x 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 30, 1935. E. G. NlxoN WEB FED PRINTINGMACHINE Filed My 17, 19:55

' April 30, 1935. E. G. NxxoN 1,999,472

y WEB FED PRINTING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 30,1935.

E. G. NIXGN WEB FED PRINTING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4@y Wig/5% April 30, 1935. E. G. NlxoN v WEB FED PRINTING MACHINE FiledMay 17, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 30, 1,935

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE Application May 17, 1933, Serial No. 671,503In Great Britain October 1, 1932 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to printing machines and ismore-particularly concerned with such machines Athat print on a web andfrom a reel and which have a variable and intermittent feed of the web.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel method ofoperating and arranging a printing couple for use in director offsetprinting which can be used with particular advantage in a web-printingmachine. A further object of the invention is to provide printingmechanism in web-printing machines which, in practice, is highlyefficient and more simple in operation in the production of single andmulti-colour printing and perfecting than apparatus hitherto used forthis purpose.

According to the present invention provision is made of a printingmachine adapted to print and/ or perfect an intermittently fed web ofpaper or other material by the use of a printing couple comprising astationary impression lbed and a rotary cylinder or cylinders which, oreach of which, carries a printing plate extending around one half orless of its circumference and is' reciprocated longitudinally of the webto contact at predetermined intervals therewith.

In the preferred form the rotary printing cylinder is adapted to performa reciprocatory movement in which the axis of the cylinder moves in animaginary surface which is at all points equidistant from the surface ofthe bed while thel cylinder in performing said movement rotatescontinuously in the same direction.

It is known in offset machines to provide a stationary fiat form bed anda rotary, travelling oiset cylinder, but these machines operate onsheets.

Also a web-printing and perfecting machine has been proposemdrin whichprovision is made of a rotary printing cylinder or cylinders adapted toperform a reciprocatory movement transversely of the direction of travelof the web, the direction of rotation of the'printing cylinder orcylinders being reversed in each linear reciprocation thereof.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, aconstructional embodiment of the invention together with a modificationthereof will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a web printing machine constructedwith a. stationary impression bed and travelling printing cylinderarranged to carry into effect the method of the present invention. s

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, drawn to a larger (Cl. lOl- 212) scale ofthe travelling printing cylinder and the associated actuating mechanism.

Fig. 3 ,is a part sectional, broken top plan view of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views, inl elevation, of the ratchet membersforming part of the rack andpinion drive of the travelling printingcylinders.

Fig. -6 is a. fragmentary view of the printing cylinder and platenshowing the relative clearance provided by the cut away printingcylinder at the extreme point of the printing stroke.

Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views showing the relative positions ofthe printing couple during a complete reciprocatory movement, and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing an arrangement of the web run forthe purpose of perfectingthe printed web.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the printing machinecomprises a sole or base plate I0 to which are secured upwardlyextending side frames I I secured to which is the preferably horizontalplaten bed or impression bed I2. The impression bed I2 is thereforestationary and carries on its upper surface along one lateral edgethereof a fixed toothed rack I3. As shown in Fig. 3 the rack lies closeto and parallel with the inner lateral edge of one of the side vframesII the upper surfaces of which are outwardly overhung and machined orotherwise shaped to form roller runways IIa. which are adapted toreceive and support the rollers of a longitudinally reciprocatoryprinting carriage as hereinafter described. The impression bed I2 (asshown in Figs. 3, 4 `and 5) forms the support for a platen 3 I 4 overwhich travels the printing carriage I5. The carriage I5 compriseslongitudinal side members I6 having downwardly extending lateral flangesor skirts I1 and secured by transverse tie rods I8. 'Ihe carriage sidemembers I6 each are providedwith a series of inwardly projecting rollersor runners I9 which ride upon the runways I Ia so as slidably to supportthe carriage I5. The rollers or runners I9 are journalled in freelymovable slide bars or lbearing strips 28 which extend longitudinally ofthe frames II and are guided in suitable slots provided in the innerfaces of the skirts I1. At one extremity these strips 2B carry rotatablymounted pinion wheels 29 which engage a lower toothed rack 30 rigidlymounted upon thev side frames II and upper toothed racks 3l carried'byextensions or nose pieces 32 of the carriage members I6 (Fig. 2) By thisarrangement a differential movement of'the bearing strips 28 and runnerslrelatively to the movement of the carriage I5 is obtained whichobviates a considerable amount of the friction normally set up in amovement between surfaces of this nature. The skirts I1 overhanging thecuter sides of the frames I I carry rotatably journalled rollers orrunners 20 which engage the under surface of the outwardly overhung run,ways lla to retain the'carriage upon the runways. Downwardly extendinglugs 2| are provided on the outer faces of the skirts I1 to form bearingbrackets for the journals of connecting rods 22 which at their otherextremities are pinned to crank discs 23 (Figs. 2 and 3) the throw ofwhich may be set as shown or if desired made adjustable in known manner.The crank discs 23 are mounted upon the outwardly projecting ends of atransverse shaft 23a and are driven from the electric motor 24 through agear train comprising gears 2,5, 25a and chain and sprocket drive 2s and21 (Fig. 1).

'I'he carriage side members I 6 are adapted to provide bearing bracketsjournalled in which are the transverse shafts 33 and 33a respectivelycarrying the printing cylinders 34 and 34a. and requisite driving gearstherefor, a shaft 35 carrying the reverse drive gears, and a shaft 36carrying an idler gear for a purpose hereinafter described. Referringmore particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the arrangement of the drivingmechanism for the printing cylinders 34, 34a is as follows:

The shaft 33 of printing cylinder 34 has keyed to one of its extremities(see Fig. 3) a spur gear wheel 38 which meshes with an idler gear 39which in turn meshes with a spur gear 40 keyed to the shaft 33a of theprinting cylinder 34a and meshing with a spur gear 4I of similar pitchwhich is keyed to the shaft 35. At its opposite extremity the shaft 33carries a toothed ring 42 which embraces a hub 43 keyed to the shaft 33and carrying a spring loaded pawl 44 adapted to engage a ratchet step ortooth 45, formed in the inner rim of the toothed ring 42, when the ring42 is revolved in a clockwise direction in travelling 45 ,from left toright in mesh with the teeth of the rack I3 (Fig. 4). The shaft 35 onthis side carries a similar toothed ring 41 likewise in mesh with theteeth of the rackv I3 and embracing a hub 48 keyed to the shaft 35. Thishub 48 accommodates a spring loaded pawl 49, which is adapted to engagea ratchet step or tooth 50, formed in the inner rim of the toothed ring41,when the ring 41 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction. As abovementioned thegears 38 and 40 carried by the shafts 33 and 33arespectively are in constant mesh with the interposed idler gear 39 sothat the printing cylinders 34 and 34a are rotated always in the samedirection by the positive drive of either of the spur gears 42 and 41.`

It will be seen that in the displacement of the printing carriage I5which for each printing operation is from left to right as viewed inFigs. 4 and 5, the toothed ring 42 in traversing the rack I3 is rotated.in clockwise direction and thus clutches and rotates the shaft 33together with the printing cylinder 34 and spur gear 38 in the clockwisedirection. The idler gear 39 mounted on the shaft 36 and in mesh withspur gear 38 rotates in anti-clockwise direction and therefore rotatesgear 40 in'clockwise direction. Since the gear 40 is keyed toshaft 33athe latter together with the printing cylinder 34a is also rotated inclockwise direction while the toothed ring 41 rotates idly in clockwisedirection.

In the return stroke of the printing carriage,

i. e. from right to left in the drawings (Fig. 5) the toothed ring 41rotates in anti-clockwise direction and thus clutches the hub 48 so torotate the shaft 35 and gear 4I in anti-clockwise direction. The gear 4Imeshing directly with gear 40 carried by the shaft 33a rotates thelatter and the printing cylinder 34a-in clockwise direction as before sothat a continuous rotation of the printing cylinders 34 and 34a inclockwise direction is maintained despite the reversal of the movementof the printing carriage I5 in the reciprocation thereof.

As shown in Figs. .l and 2, the printing carriage I5 serves to supportinking devices of well known type and which in the present constructioncan be positioned,.if desired in an adjustable manner, so as to be inconstant contact with the printing surfaces of the cylinders 34 and 34aand since the printing cylinders are rotated continuously in onedirection highly eicient ink distribution is attained.

The web to be printed is contained in the usual mill-supply roll 5Isupported transversely of the machine frame on brackets 52 in usualmanner. As seen in Fig. 1 this supply roll 5I is positioned below theleft hand extremity of the impression bed I2 and led over and around theknown guiding and tensioning devices 53 and 54 so as to pass over theplaten and longitudinally of the impression bed to similar guides 55 atthe further extremity of the machine where, if desired, the web is fedto a re-winding apparatus 56 or alternatively passed through aguillotine device (not shown) whereby the printed web is severed insheets or multi-printed sections which may be delivered in known mannerto sheet folding, delivery or stacking means. Known means formechanically advancing the web in intermittent steps of movement whichcorrespond to the effective length of stroke of the printing mechanismare shown in Fig. 1 and comprise a slide bar 51, or number of such barspositioned immediately beneath the webat the end of its horizontal runand co-operating with plunger members (not shown) having frictionsurfaces normally suspended above the web and aligned with the slidebars 51 so that the web is clamped between the slide bars and associatedplunger members when the latter are downwardly tripped. Means forcontrolling the movement of the plungers are provided by mounting themon a transverse shaft 58, which is journalled in slide memberspositioned to each side of the machine and one of which is shown at 58a.The slide members are mounted upon guide bars 62 supported parallel tothe side frames Il by brackets 63 secured to the frames and the slidesare reciprocated by means of connecting rods secured at one extremitythereto and linked in an adjustable manner to crank disc 65 mounted uponthe shaft carrying the gear 26a so that the reciprocation of the webfeed device is achieved in strictly timed relation to the movement ofthe printing carriage I5. The web engaging and release movement of theplungers is attained in known manner by a semi-rotary movement oftheshaft 58 and this movement is readily achieved by a trip finger keyed tothe shaft 58 and downwardly extending therefrom to engage in turn thestops 60 and 6I. Thus, in the reciprocatory movements of the slidemembers 5I by reason of the rotation of the crank disc II, the webengaging'plungers are caused to engage the web when the Enger 59 istripped in an auth' clockwise direction by the stop 6I, while therelease of the web from the clamping action of .the

bar 51 and plungers would be eiected by contact of the nger 59 with thestop 60 at the limit of the effective stroke of the device. The barwould be returned to the initial inoperative position by spring actuatedmeans (not shown). The variable and intermittent feed can also beeffected by other known means such as-feed rollers operated by pawl andratchet wheel.

The regulation and adjustment of the web when rewinding 'can be manuallyeffected in known manner by the adjusting means indicated in Fig. 1 bythe reference 66. In perfecting a printed web (i. e. also pr ing uponthe reverse side thereof) by means o the machine above described themachine frame Il and impression bed I2 would be adapted to receive andsupport the additional perfecting apparatus to the right of the existingapparatus shown in Fig. 1. As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9 suchperfecting apparatus could comprise a travelling cylinder printing unit10 constructed and adapted to operate in a precisely similar manner tothat described in reference to the unit l5 and operated byl a secondconnecting rod extending from the crank disc 23.

In the perfecting operation the web would be run from the supply roll 5Iand around and over suitable guides Il and tensioning devices so thatthe reverse side of the web first passes beneath the printing cylinderof the unit I5 to receive the requisite imprint and then passes roundthe guides 12 and 12a to assume the second printing position beneath theprinting cylinders of the unit 'l0 as previously described. By thisarrangement of the web run the first printed surface, when reversed,remains untouched by the guiding and/or tensioning means until reachingthe guiding roller`12a by which time the ink applied to the web is dryor suiiiciently dry to prevent damage to the work.

In the printing mechanism above described the cylinders designated asprinting cylinders are utilized for carrying stereo or other' printingplate or plates, e. g. as used for photogravure and the maximumprintingv surface thus provided comprises rather less than one half ofthe circumference of the cylinders. In this arrangement the continuousrotation of the printing cylinder carries the printing surface S thereofclear of the Work immediately the effectiveA printing stroke of thecylinder is completed, as shown in Fig. 7, and until the printingcarriage has completed its reciprocatory movement to the initialposition at the commencement of the next printing stroke (as shown inFig. 8). The clearance thus provided between the web and the printingsurface of the printing cylinder is clearly shown in the enlargedfragmentary view, Fig. 6, and enables the intermittent movement of theweb to each fresh printing position to take place freely and withoutcontact with the printing surface of the printing cylinder. e

In the operation of the printing machine above described the web runfrom the supply reel 5| passes over the platen in intermittent steps ofmovement from left to right as viewed in Fig. 1.V

printing area and/or the size of the sheets to result from the web suchco-ordination is readily maintained by the adjustability of the crankdiscs 25 and 65.

After the printing and, if desired, perfecting of the web, the lattermay advance in intermittent steps past auxiliary devices, e. g.,numbering, perforating and punchingdevices, and thereafter as abovestated to a suitable re-winding device or alternatively to a cutting andtrimming device and if desired to folding devices in known manner.

It will be appreciated that in the method of operation one or aplurality of cylinders can be used for the purpose of multi-colourprinting and moreover by a re-arrangement of the web run the perfectingarrangement described in reference to Fig. 9 could if desired be used aspart of a single side multi-colour printing arrangement.

The printing can be effected by the use of stereo or other metal plates,by composition plates or by the use of rubber plates for letter pressprinting or the like, or the cylinder can be arranged for ordinary oisetprinting or dry oilset printing as may be desired.

I claim:

1. A printing machine adapted to print and/or perfect an intermittentlyfed web, including a printing couple comprising a stationary impressionbed to support the web during printing, at least one rotary cylinderadapted to carry a printing plate extending around`not more than onehalf of its circumference, means for reciprocating said cylinderlongitudinally of the web, and associated means for rotating saidcylinder in one direction only so that the printing plate contacts atpredetermined intervals with said web.

2. A printing machine adapted to print and/or perfect an intermittentlyfed web, including a printing couple comprising a stationary impressionbed to support the web during printing, a rotary printing cylinderadapted to carry a printing plate extending around not more thanone-half of its circumference and to move with its axis in an imaginarysurface at all points equidistant from the surface of said bed, andmeans for rotating said cylinder in one direction only while it moves toperform each printing op- 'eration and return to its initial position.

3. A printing machine adapted to print and/or perfect an intermittentlyfed web, including a printing couple comprising a stationary impressionbed to support the web during printing, a plurality of rotary printingcylinders each adapted toy carry a printing plate extending around notmore than one-half of its circumference and to move with their axes inan imaginary surface at all points equidistant from the surface of saidbed, and means for rotating said cylinders in one direction only whilethey move to perform each printing operation and return to their initialposition.

4. A printing machine adapted to print and/or perfect an intermittentlyfed web, comprising a stationary impression bed to support the webduring printing, a rotary cylinder arranged to carry a printing plateextending around not more than one half the circumference of saidcylinder, and adapted to move with its axis in an imaginary suri'ace atall points equidistant from the surface of said bed, and means forrotating said cylinder in one direction only while it moves to performeach printing operation ,and return to its initial position.

5. A printing machine adapted to print and/or perfect an intermittentlyfed web, including a printing couple comprising a stationary impressionbed to support the web during printing, a travelling carriage adapted tomove across said bed, at least one printing roller rotatably mounted onsaid carriage, inking devices mounted on said carriage and operativelyassociated with said printing roller, means for reciprocating saidcarriage to cause said cylinder to contact at predetermined intervalswith the web, means for preventing a printing operation on the returnstroke, and means for rotating said cylinder in one direction onlyduring its reciprocatory movement.

6. A printing machine adapted to print and/or perfect an intermittentlyfed web, including a printing couple comprising a stationary impressionbed to support the web during printing, at least one rotary cylinderadapted to carry a printing plate extending around not more than onehalf of its circumference, means for reciprocating said printingcylinder to cause said cylinder to Contact at predetermined intervalswith the web, and associated means for rotating said printing cylinderin one direction only during its reciprocation.

7. A printing machine adapted to print and/or perfect an intermittentlyfed web, including a printing couple comprising a stationary impressionbed to support the web during printing, a plurality of printingcylinders each adapted to carry a printing plate extending round notmore than one half of its circumference, means for4 reciprocating saidcylinders longitudinally of the web to cause said cylinders to contactat predetermined intervals with said web, and associated means forrotating said printing cylinders in one direction only during thereciprocatory movement.

8. A printing machine as claimed in claim 5 including means forprogressing the web in intermittent steps of movement across theimpression bed,'means for adjusting the extent of said movement, meansfor imparting a reciprocatory movement to said carriage, and means fortiming the movement of said printing carriage in accordance with thefeed of the web.

9. A printing machine adapted to print and/or perfect an intermittentlyfed web, including a stationary impression bed, means fpr guiding theweb over said bed, at least one toothed rack associated with said bed, aslidably mounted printing carriage, means for periodically reciprocatingsaid carriage longitudinally of said bed at least one printing cylinderrotatably mounted upon said carriage andarranged to contact periodicallywith said web, means for preventing a printing operation on the returnstroke, a train of com. stantly meshcd gears adapted to drive saidprinting cylinder in one direction only, a toothed driving pinionadapted to move with said printing carriage and mesh with said toothedrack to drive said gears when rotated in clockwise direction, and asecond toothed driving pinion adapted to move with said printingcarriage and mesh with said toothed rack to drive said gears whenrotating in anticlockwise direction.

l0. A printing machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein provision is madeof runners to support said printing carriage, runways to support saidrunners, and means for effecting differential displacement of saidrunners relatively to the displacement of the carriage as set forth.

l1. A printing machine adapted to print and/or perfect an intermittentlyfed web. including a stationary impression bed, a plurality of printingrollers, means for reciprocating said printing rollers relatively tosaid impression bed, means for preventing a printing operation on thereturn stroke, means for rotating said printing rollers in one directiononly during their reciprocatory movements, web-guiding means adapted toposi-i tion the web upon said bed so that one surface of the web iscaused to Contact with at least one of said printing rollers to printsaid web, further web-guiding means adapted subsequently to guide theweb so that the reverse side thereof is Ypresented for contact with atleast one of said printing rollers to effect the perfecting of the web.

12. A printing machine adapted to print and/ or perfect anintermittently fed web, comprising a pair of side frames, asubstantially horizontal impression bed supported between said frames.parallel runways extending longitudinally of said frame and impressionbed, a movable carriage supported by runners adapted to travel upon saidrunways, at least one printing cylinder rotatably supported on saidcarriage, means for preventing a printing operation on the returnstroke, a train of gears adapted to rotate said cylinder in onedirection only, means actuated by the movement of said carriage fordriving said gears, means for guiding the web between said impressionbed and said printing cylinder, means for progressing the web step bystep and in timed relation to the reciprocation of said carriage andprinting cylinder, and inking devices mounted upon said carriage andoperatively associated with said printing cylinder.

13. A printing machine adapted to print and/ or perfect anintermittently fed web, comprising a pair of side frames, asubstantially horizontal impression bed held between said frames andadapted to support a platen, parallel runways extending longitudinallyof said bed, a movable carriage supported by runners adapted to travelupon said runways, a toothed rack member extending longitudinally ofsaid bed, at least one printing cylinder rotatably mounted on saidcarriage, a printing plate extending around not more than one half ofsaid cylinder, a train of gears adapted to drive the printing cylinderin one direction only, a driving pinion adapted to move with saidcarriage and mesh with said toothed rack to drive said gears whenrotated in clockwise direction, a second driving pinion adapted to movewith said carriage and mesh with said toothed rack to drive said gearswhen rotated in anticlockwise direction, means for reciprocating saidcarriage and printing roller longitudinally of the printing plate andabove said platen, means for guiding the paper web between said platenand said printing cylinder, and means for advancing said web step bystep in timed relationto the reciprocation of said printing cylinder. y

14. A printing machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein each drivingpinion comprises an axial member, a hub keyed to said axial member, atoothed ring adapted to embrace said hub and mesh with the toothed rack,said ring having a detent formed in one face thereof, and a springloaded pawl housed in said hub and adapted to engage the detent in saidring during the rotation of the latter in one direction, said pawlsserving to clutch said toothed rings to the associated hubs to rotatethe latter in opposed directions of rotation.

15. A printing machine adapted to print and perfect an intermittentlyfed web, including a `flat substantially horizontal impression bed, aprinting unit comprising at leastone rotary printing cylinder adapted tomove over the surface of said impression bed, means for rotating saidcylinder in one direction only during its displacing :nove--l ment. asecond printing unit comprising at least vwith said second printingcylinder, means for reciprocating said printing/units longitudinally o!said web so that the latter is printed and perfected during a step bystep movement across said impression bed.

16. A printing machine adapted to print and/ or perfect anintermittently fed web, including a printing couple comprising astationary impression bed to support the web during printing, at leastone rotary cylinder adapted to carry a printing plate extending. aroundnot more than onehalf of its circumference, and means for reciprocatingsaid cylinder longitudinally of the web and for intermittently rotatingsaid cylinder in one direction to cause the printing plate to contact atpredetermined intervals with said web only during the longitudinalmovement in one direction.

ERNEST GEORGE NIxoN.

